The conclusion of a paper is always hardest for me to write. I’ve already said everything–what more is there to do?

Well, this is the opportunity to wrap everything up. It is best to restate your thesis at the beginning of your conclusion, just to bring the reader back to your main point. But don’t use the exact same sentence as in your intro. A slight variation will keep your from sounding redundant.

It is also important not to put any new facts in your conclusions. All those should be in the body of your paper. This is where many students have trouble. It is difficult not to sound redundant when you can’t put in any new facts. Here perhaps you can apply your argument to the bigger picture. How does this apply to life? Or, why is your argument important? What effect does your argument have in your life, or in your reader’s life? Have you reached any startling revelation through your argument?

These are some questions you can ask yourself at the end of your paper to perhaps shed some new light on what you have already talked about in the body. Does anyone else have other ideas?

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